In accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, Ireland offers immunisation against 5 target diseases:

• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Whooping cough (pertussis)
• Polio
• Measles

In addition, Ireland offers vaccinations against:

• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Mumps
• Rubella (German Measles)
• Meningitis C
• Tuberculosis
• Hepatitis B
• Pneumococcal infection 
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (girls only)
• Selective influenza vaccination for children in high risk groups for the disease

Why immunise?

• Immunisation is a positive health benefit for children as it can help prevent many of the serious infectious diseases that kill and handicap children.
• For most of the diseases we immunise against there is no cure - either from the disease itself or the long-term side effects.
• Prevention is better than cure and avoids unnecessary suffering to the individual child and disruption to the family.
• Immunisation can help to prevent outbreaks and epidemics of infectious diseases.
• Immunisation can eradicate or eliminate certain diseases, e.g. smallpox, polio, neonatal tetanus, diphtheria.
• The two public health interventions with the greatest impact are clean water and vaccination. 

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